The Portland daily press., 1887-11-18
BAYARD's sUPERNuMERARIEs.
Senator Frye Reviews the Action of
the Secretary of State.
He Thinks the Negotiations viii Help
to Make a Treaty.
Commercial Union Not a Paying Ar
rangement for this Country.

LEWISTON, Nov. Ex-senator Frye talked
with a reporter today respecting the fish,
cries. The reporter commenced the con-
versation by asking the Senator's opinion
respecting the commission.
"The whatp" said Mr. Frye, with smile.
"The Fisheries Commission which meets
in Washington today"
"You mean the meeting of supernumer-
aries whom Mr.. Bayard has called to his
side and the commissioners whom England
has sent. L correct you advisedly, for the
Secretary of State having learned that the
President had no authority in law to appoint
a commission, has suddenly changed the
name of his assistants from commissioners
| to negotiators."
"Well, then, negotiators; what will be the
outcome?"
Before give my opinion on that let us
r ew little recent history. In 1885, when
the provisions of the last fisheries treaty
came to an end, without any law whatever
to support him, Secretary Bayard made an
agreement with Great Britain by which the
right to fish within the three-mile limit was
extended for period of some six months.
1t was a part of the agreement that Presi-
dent Cleveland should recommend Congress
to advise the appointment of commission
to settle the controversy. Now the Presi-
dent, of course. had that right, and the
Secretary's doings as far as that was con-
cerned were perfectly proper But as far as
granting privileges to the Canadians was
concerned his action was perfectly improper.
He had no right whatever to do it, Well,
the Presidents recommendation came up in
the Senate, and that body promptly passed
resolution by two-thirds vote declaring
that in its opinion no such commission
should be appointed"
Sand this was directly in accordance with
the opinions of fishermen?"
Precisely. The Presidents recommends
tion was directly against their expressed
wishes. Before Mr. Bayard made this agree
ment with Minister West, committee Of
the American Fisheries Union communicat-
ed with the Secretary and expressed desire
to meet him and President Cleveland for the
purpose of giving to the administration
whatever information was in their posses
sion. Mr.. Bayard replied that he and the
President fully understood the question. and
would protect the United States fisheries.
and indeed were already doing so. Thus he
declined the interview. In short time the
members of the Union, with amazement and
outspoken indignation, read in the papers of
the Secretary's agreement. have never
seen a fisherman who desired the interven-
tion of a commission. By the last we lost
S11 ,000, ,000-S5, 500, 900 in awards and $500,
0Co in duties. A committee of senators
made thorough examination into fisheries
matters, and called many witnesses both
from Maine and Massachusetts. AS MEM
Der of that committee cannot remember a
single man Identified with the fisheries who
wanted to fish within the three-mile limit, or
who wanted a commission to settle the con-
troyersy which had arisen"
What, then, can the convention do?"
asked the reporter.
Il fail to see that it can do anything. The
American members can get Mr.. Joseph
Chamberlain's views, and that is about all.
should judge from Secretary Bayard's con-
duct that he already has the views of Minis
ter West"
"What do you understand to be the ex-
pressed object of the institution p
From England's attitude / should say
that it was the original purpose to appoint a
commission to SETTLE. From the recent al
legged utterances of Mr.. Bayard, should
and Angel as advisers in negotiating a
treaty"
"And the whole thing is in opposition to
the expressed opinion of the Senate?"
Clearly So" answered the Senator with a
passing the resolution which i have just
referred to. the Senate, by vote equally
strong, passed bill authorizing moderate
retaliation. We hoped that Mr.. Cleveland
would avail himself of this and that the out
RACES would be stopped: The bill also passed
the House. What did the President do?
Absolutely nothing. 1t was understood,
whether directly from Mr.. Cleveland or not
do not know, that he did not consider the
measure sufficiently radical. The Senate
then passed another bill, more extensive.
and, If used much more efficacious. The
House amended it by authorizing. the Presi-
dent, if he saw fit, to, absolutely stop all
intercourse with Canada ada, This ,,S was - sup
administration. The bill went through the
House, was signed by the President and be-
came law. This gave the administration
all the power it wanted, and If it had been
used, in my opinion the. outTages would
this time? Nothing. On the contrary, we
find him appointing at Mr. Bayard's sug-
gestion, these commissioners whom he now
calls negotiators"
"Then the only legal outcome that there
can be is to send treaty to the Senator"
THAT is just as l understand it,"
'And what would the Senate do with
treaty?"
THAT, of course, cannot say. But have
no hope that one can be made with England
that would be acceptable to the United
States. Canada wishes our market for agri-
cultural products, lumber and fish. The
only thing they can give US in return is
market for manufactured goods. Great
Britain will never consent to have our pro-
ducts go into one of her colonies while hers
"Do you think this convention will at
tempt anything in regard to commercial
union?"
Il don't think Mr.. Bayard's associates,
being men of the highest intelligence, will
attempt anything like that. Commercial
union at present is simply myth. Canada
must first become independent, you know.
The same reason that gave why England
would not consent to treaty acceptable to
this country holds good respecting CONNER
cial union. She would never allow it. For
myself do not see any great advantage for
New England in the proposed scheme. Can
ada would be dealing with sixty millions Of
people. while we would have only five. 1
prefer annexation, and in time think it Is
sure to come"
ITO return to the fisheries, how does the
administrations action impress you?"
There is either hopeless ignorance or a
desire to completely surrender to Sir Lionel
West. Mr.. Bayard and his family have held
such despotic power in Delaware that he
seems naturally and instinctively to have a
| soft side for England, all of which leads
| him to consult British interests and decline
| all information from American fishermen.
| Minister Phelps seems to be the only men,
Der of the administration who has the
| slightest comprehension of the question.
! When an American vagabond Is tried, con-
| victed and imprisoned in Mexico for break
ing one OF Mexico S laws, MI. bayaIu lnteI-
feres with ferocity almost appalling. lie
was on the ragged edge of war. These Ca
madam outrages have been going on for three
years. The only result is a commission that
| isn't commission. The fact is this admin
| istration is English, you know"
explain President Cleveland's attitude.
"He simply doesn't know. MIR. Bayard Is
| man of long experience in national affairs
| Mr.. Cleveland has had but very little, prac
tically none. He naturally falls in with the
| Secretary's suggestions. Imagine Mr.
| Blaine as President. He would have a.
once availed himself of the power granted
by Congress, and the outrages would have
ceased"
UPPER ON THE FISHERIES.
| He Thinks the Commission May Pro